Quantum Microcomponents has said it is interested in taking over the Tiny.com PC business, following the collapse of Granville Technology Group earlier this week. Burnley-based Granville, which went into administration on Wednesday, also owns the Time Computers brand.

Chris Grierson, managing director, said his company would maintain the Tiny.com brand, and provide technical support for existing Tiny.com customers.

"What we don't want is for the [founding] family to buy it back, because then it could be run as a competitor on an ongoing basis," he added, making it clear that for him this is as much about eliminating a major competitor, as making an altruistic gesture.

Grierson said a deal could also save a few of the 1,500 jobs lost, and that initially Quantum would need around 20 extra staff to help on customer support. Ultimately, he said, the number of jobs the company could save would depend on how damaging Granville's demise has been to the Tiny brand.

"Basically, the faster the administrators deal with us, the more jobs we could save," he said, adding that he planned to meet with them next week.

A spokesman for the administrators, Grant Thornton, told us that the administrators were tracking interested parties, but cautioned: "In my experience, when this sort of thing happens, a lot of people want to have a look, but very few stick around to buy."

Grant Thornton issued a statement last night, saying that it has put a funding package in place for "the continuation of warranty cover on a limited basis and customer support, whilst allowing the joint administrators time to assess the Group’s operations".

It also published a contact address for customers and creditor support, and asks that wherever possible, people use the following email address: enquiries-time@gtuk.com. ®

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